# US 2009/0260913 A1 · Steering apparatus for vehicle

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- Number: US 2009/0260913 A1
- Document ID: US20090260913A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/989,007
- Filed: 2006-07-12
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2005-07-20
- Inventors: Tadao Ito; Akira Osanai; Kenji Higashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260913A1

## CPC

- B62D 5/001: {Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup}
- B62D 5/003: {Backup systems, e.g. for manual steering (B62D5/30 takes precedence)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a steer-by-wire (SBW) mode in which road wheels are steered by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device. The steering apparatus comprises: a connecting mechanism which can connect the steering device and the steering mechanism mechanically; and an SBW control unit which sets the connecting mechanism to a disconnected state to control the steering mechanism based on an operating amount of the steering device under the steer-by-wire mode, and sets the connecting mechanism to a connected state to switch a steering mode from the steer-by-wire mode to a steer-by-wire backup mode when it has been determined that the steer-by-wire mode cannot be executed properly. The connecting mechanism is set to the disconnected state while being energized and set to the connected state while being non-energized. The SBW control unit checks whether or not the steer-by-wire mode can be executed properly at start of engine and always during operation of engine. Therefore, an SBW backup system can be activated unfailingly when the system is out of order.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a steer-by-wire mode in which road wheels are steered by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device, the apparatus comprising:
a connecting mechanism which mechanically connects the steering device and the steering mechanism; and
a steer-by-wire control unit which
sets the connecting mechanism to a disconnected state to control the steering mechanism based on an operating amount of the steering device under the steer-by-wire mode, and
sets the connecting mechanism to a connected state to switch a steering mode from the steer-by-wire mode to a steer-by-wire backup mode when it has been determined that the steer-by-wire mode cannot be executed properly,
wherein
the connecting mechanism is set to the disconnected state while being energized and set to the connected state while being non-energized, and
the steer-by-wire control unit checks whether or not the steer-by-wire mode can be executed properly at start of engine and always during operation of engine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the steer-by-wire control unit shuts off electric power to itself to stop energizing the connecting mechanism when it has been determined that the steer-by-wire mode cannot be executed properly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
a case where the steer-by-wire mode cannot be executed properly includes a steer-by-wire system malfunction and an electronic component system malfunction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steer-by-wire control unit
checks whether or not the steer-by-wire mode can be executed properly under the disconnected state of the connecting mechanism by energizing when an electrical supply to the vehicle is started at start of engine,
continues energizing the connecting mechanism to keep the disconnected state of the connecting mechanism when it has been determined that the steer-by-wire mode can be executed properly, and
stops energizing the connecting mechanism to set the connecting mechanism to the connected state when it has been determined that the steer-by-wire mode cannot be executed properly.